“In another way, too, there may be hidden in that box secrets which, for good or ill, may enlighten the world.  We know from their records, and inferentially also, that the Egyptians studied the properties of herbs and minerals for magic purposes—­white magic as well as black.  We know that some of the wizards of old could induce from sleep dreams of any given kind.  That this purpose was mainly effected by hypnotism, which was another art or science of Old Nile, I have little doubt.  But still, they must have had a mastery of drugs that is far beyond anything we know.  With our own pharmacopoeia we can, to a certain extent, induce dreams.  We may even differentiate between good and bad—­dreams of pleasure, or disturbing and harrowing dreams.  But these old practitioners seemed to have been able to command at will any form or colour of dreaming; could work round any given subject or thought in almost any was required.  In that coffer, which you have seen, may rest a very armoury of dreams.  Indeed, some of the forces that lie within it may have been already used in my household.”  Again there was an interruption from Doctor Winchester.

“But if in your case some of these imprisoned forces were used, what set them free at the opportune time, or how?  Besides, you and Mr. Corbeck were once before put into a trance for three whole days, when you were in the Queen’s tomb for the second time.  And then, as I gathered from Mr. Corbeck’s story, the coffer was not back in the tomb, though the mummy was.  Surely in both these cases there must have been some active intelligence awake, and with some other power to wield.”  Mr. Trelawny’s answer was equally to the point: 

“There was some active intelligence awake.  I am convinced of it.  And it wielded a power which it never lacks.  I believe that on both those occasions hypnotism was the power wielded.”

“And wherein is that power contained?  What view do you hold on the subject?” Doctor Winchester’s voice vibrated with the intensity of his excitement as he leaned forward, breathing hard, and with eyes staring.  Mr. Trelawny said solemnly: 

“In the mummy of the Queen Tera!  I was coming to that presently.  Perhaps we had better wait till I clear the ground a little.  What I hold is, that the preparation of that box was made for a special occasion; as indeed were all the preparations of the tomb and all belonging to it.  Queen Tera did not trouble herself to guard against snakes and scorpions, in that rocky tomb cut in the sheer cliff face a hundred feet above the level of the valley, and fifty down from the summit.  Her precautions were against the disturbances of human hands; against the jealousy and hatred of the priests, who, had they known of her real aims, would have tried to baffle them.  From her point of view, she made all ready for the time of resurrection, whenever that might be.  I gather from the symbolic pictures in the tomb that